Post by Kiwi Frontline on Jan 10, 2018 16:49:01 GMT 12
HOLIDAYMAKERS CLAIM THREATS MADE OVER FAR NORTH BEACH RAHUI
A Rodney man is warning other holidaymakers to steer clear of Cable Bay after his family was threatened by young men claiming to be enforcing a rahui.
Following the tragedy a rahui was imposed on part of the bay, prohibiting swimming or seafood gathering.
However, a Rodney man said he and his family had been threatened by young men enforcing the rahui. The men also claimed the rahui included a ban on playing on the beach.
They kept away for the first few days, then went to the beach about 5pm on Saturday for a game of touch. His group was approached by a man in his 20s, accompanied by two older women, who filmed beachgoers on their phones and told them to ''Clear off''.
''He told us 'You can't swim here, you can't fish here, you can't play on the beach, so get out of here'.''
On Monday afternoon his wife took their children, aged 2 and 3, to play in the stream at Cable Bay. They were joined by four other children ranging in age from 4 to 8.
She was approached by another man who told her to leave. Dan's wife said they were only playing on the beach, not going into the sea, so they had every right to stay.
''He got right up in her face and told her to leave. He threatened to bring some more people to the beach to remove them. It smelt like he'd been drinking. The kids were pretty upset.''
Hone Bassett, a trustee at the local Parapara Marae, said a lack of education about rahui and other Maori cultural practices was an issue around the country.
"If our partners who have been here for 170-odd years can't understand that, there's not much we can do," he said.
"We can't be in control of our young people when people are desecrating our culture."
"We have to put these rahui in place for protection of our culture, it's really protection for all people," Mr Bassett said. "When it comes to drowning, we take that very seriously."
Mr Bassett confirmed the rahui was lifted yesterday morning.....
www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503450&objectid=11971983
A Rodney man is warning other holidaymakers to steer clear of Cable Bay after his family was threatened by young men claiming to be enforcing a rahui.
Following the tragedy a rahui was imposed on part of the bay, prohibiting swimming or seafood gathering.
However, a Rodney man said he and his family had been threatened by young men enforcing the rahui. The men also claimed the rahui included a ban on playing on the beach.
They kept away for the first few days, then went to the beach about 5pm on Saturday for a game of touch. His group was approached by a man in his 20s, accompanied by two older women, who filmed beachgoers on their phones and told them to ''Clear off''.
''He told us 'You can't swim here, you can't fish here, you can't play on the beach, so get out of here'.''
On Monday afternoon his wife took their children, aged 2 and 3, to play in the stream at Cable Bay. They were joined by four other children ranging in age from 4 to 8.
She was approached by another man who told her to leave. Dan's wife said they were only playing on the beach, not going into the sea, so they had every right to stay.
''He got right up in her face and told her to leave. He threatened to bring some more people to the beach to remove them. It smelt like he'd been drinking. The kids were pretty upset.''
Hone Bassett, a trustee at the local Parapara Marae, said a lack of education about rahui and other Maori cultural practices was an issue around the country.
"If our partners who have been here for 170-odd years can't understand that, there's not much we can do," he said.
"We can't be in control of our young people when people are desecrating our culture."
"We have to put these rahui in place for protection of our culture, it's really protection for all people," Mr Bassett said. "When it comes to drowning, we take that very seriously."
Mr Bassett confirmed the rahui was lifted yesterday morning.....
www.nzherald.co.nz/northern-advocate/news/article.cfm?c_id=1503450&objectid=11971983